Best Foods for the Anti-Aging Diet

Anti-aging is not a modern concept. Mankind has been searching for the Fountain of Youth, and the restorative powers it may offer, as far back as the days of Herodotus. Juan Ponce de Leon brought the search to the New World in 1513. Today, we search the byways of science and naturopathy to find solutions for anti-aging.

Abundance of Anti-Aging Diets

Search the Internet, and find nearly 3.8 million websites with anti-aging diet formulas. Can we really reverse the process and release the eighteen-year-old trapped inside our bodies? For now, anti-aging diet is the practical application of lifestyle and diet changes. It is a way to age gracefully in the most healthy way possible. Does it work?

Nearly every day a new medical study links healthy diets with the reversal or containment of serious diseases. There is clear documentation that links prevention of chronic diseases and the introduction of a healthy diet. When people change their diets, start an exercise plan, began meditation, and reduce stress, we see a change that looks as if they have reversed the aging process. In actuality, they have encouraged their bodies to return to a more healthy state, thereby aging more gracefully.

Getting Started

Nutrition is a complicated issue. Before embarking on your new healthy lifestyle plan, remember to consult with your medical provider. He or she can help you set realistic, achievable goals and offer resources for support.

How do you choose an Anti-Aging Diet? At first blush, there seem to be thousands of options. But it all boils down to one action: eliminate the foods that cause aging. For my husband and me, that meant saying goodbye to white foods: anything with processed flour, sugar and starches - and replacing them with a nutrient-loaded antioxidant-rich diet. Our diet was not a one time event, or a fad. It has been a lifestyle change that helped drop 70 pounds between us, and reduce elevated blood pressures for both of us.

Starting out with a good anti-aging diet can be overwhelming. If your medical provider has a plan that will kick-start your process, begin there. You can access a number of good websites that combine easy-to follow diets with easy-to-understand nutritional information.

Best Foods for Anti-Aging Diet

Choose foods that are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. The fresher the food the better. As a reference point, major categories that divide 129 foods, are listed on the George Mateljan Foundation's website, The World's Healthiest Foods: http://www.whfoods.com/. It is a quick guide that lists healthy foods, and mirrors many of the recommendations from other sources. I have used it as a nutritional reference point for several years.

Here are the categories:

Vegetables
Seafood
Fruits
Eggs & low-fat dairy
Beans & legumes
Poultry & lean meat
Nuts & seeds
Whole grains
Spices & herbs
Natural sweeteners
Green tea
Soy sauce
Water

Nutritional specialists have their favorite foods within these categories, and every year new discoveries of "super foods" are announced. If you want to start out with 10 foods to easily remember, here is The Mayo Clinic's list of their favorite healthy foods:

Apples, almonds, blueberries, broccoli, red beans, salmon, spinach, sweet potatoes, vegetable juice (low sodium), and wheat germ.

Their criteria (at least three per choice) is based on: easy availability; high in phytonutrients and antioxidant compounds; excellent source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients; low in calorie density; and may help reduce serious health conditions. To learn more about their list of "best bets for eating well," go to: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/health-foods/NU00632.

Become healthier. Change your eating habits with an anti-aging diet. Start with some of the delicious foods listed above. It is a lifestyle, not a diet fad. The sooner you begin, the greater the results.

Sources:

http://www.whfoods.com/ George Mateljan Foundation: The World's Healthiest Foods.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/health-foods/NU00632. The Mayo Clinic.
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/healthydiets/anti-aging-diet-tips. Good Housekeeping.
http://www.musclemagfitness.com/anti-aging-women/anti-aging-tips-women/. MuscleMagFitness
http://www.webmd.com. WebMD.
http://www.cdc.gov/. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).